Community resources

Unincorporated Area Councils (UACs) were created to improve communication between King County government and the residents of the unincorporated areas. Each council is a volunteer organization whose members are elected by the residents of the area. The UACs distribute information on county services and create opportunities for community input and involvement. King County has officially recognized six UACs: Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council, Greater Maple Valley Area Council, North Highline Unincorporated Area Council, Upper Bear Creek Community Council, Vashon-Maury Island Community Council, and West Hill Community Council.

Rural Unincorporated Area Councils

Four Creeks Unincorporated Area Council - Located between May Valley and the Cedar River and from Renton to Issaquah. Mission: working to involve the public and improve access to information and services of King County government. (external link)

Greater Maple Valley Area Council - This UAC serves the neighborhoods of Hobart, Ravensdale, Francis, and River Heights. Mission: The Greater Maple Valley Area Council has been around for approximately 20 years. It was originally established as an advisory group to governmental agencies, primarily King County, about the issues of the community. (external link)

Upper Bear Creek Community Council - The area served by the UBC is generally the Upper Bear Creek watershed. Mission: The purpose of the council is to inform, assist and represent our community in dealing with King County government and other entities with respect to issues that affect our community. We are recognized by King County as the Unincorporated Area Council serving the Upper Bear Creek area. The council is a volunteer organization with an elected board. Residents are welcome and encouraged to participate. We are not a conflict resolution source.(external link)

Vashon-Maury Island Community Council - Serves Vashon and Maury islands. Mission: The Vashon-Maury Island Community Council is a town hall style forum for discussion of issues relevant to the residents of Vashon and Maury islands. As a town-hall forum, decisions are made by a public vote at our general meetings. Much of the work of the council takes place in our committees, which then forward their recommendations to the whole council for action.(external link)

Rural cities, towns, and chambers of commerce

(The following are external links to Web sites not maintained by King County)

Black Diamond

• Maple Valley-Black Diamond Chamber of Commerce

Carnation

• Carnation Chamber of Commerce

Duvall Chamber of Commerce

Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce

Fall City

Skykomish

Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce

Chamber of Commerce

Additional resources

King County Historic Preservation Office - goal is to identify, preserve and protect significant historic and archaeological properties in order to promote community, economic, and cultural development.

• Landmarks Program
• Barn Again Initiative

4Culture - is King County's cultural services agency. Through the integration of four program areas, 4Culture stimulates cultural activity and enhances the assets that distinguish our communities as vibrant, unique, and authentic.

• Arts (supports work of King County Arts Commission)
• Heritage (supports the heritage programs of the King County Landmarks Commission)
• Preservation (promotes the value of historic resources in building a unique sense of place in our region
• Public Arts (supports the work of the Public Art Commission)

Libraries

• King County Library System - site to find library locations in the rural cities and other library services available to King County residents.

King County's Community Service Centers

• Local service centers bring popular county services closer to home.
  
  

Other organizations

• Cascade Harvest Coalition: Building healthy food and farm systems by cultivating common ground among farming and non-farming communities.
• Cascade Land Conservancy: Cascade Land Conservancy protects our region's wild and open lands to sustain the natural beauty and health of the environment, now and for generations to come.
• Friends of Rock Creek Valley: A community grassroots organization promoting voluntary, cooperative efforts to preserve valuable Valley resources.
• Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust: The Greenway stretches along 100 miles of Interstate 90 in Washington State from the waterfront in Seattle to the edge of desert grasslands in Central Washington. In 1990 a plan was created for the Mountains to Sound Greenway to keep an accessible landscape of forests and open spaces as breathing room for people, habitat for wildlife and a place of incomparable beauty, history and outdoor recreation.